Bible Study - Stand Up (5) - Stand Up and Speak - Esther 6 and 7 - May 20, 2018

Bible Study – Stand Up (5) – Stand Up and Speak – May 20, 2018

This is lesson five in our series entitled, “Stand Up: How to fight Injustice.”

Our focus scripture is Esther 6:1-14 and Esther 7:1-10.

Be bold, but leave the results to GOD.

When we encounter the issues life brings to us, pray and seek GOD’S leadership. When we seek GOD’S leadership we must have the right relationship with HIM through faith in HIS only Son, JESUS. Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and asked HIM to come into your heart? If not, why not? Today is the day of salvation.

When we are in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS, we move and act with certainty because we seek to do HIS will and depend upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. GOD is just as active in the lives of HIS children today. Do you believe that? If not confess it to HIM and ask HIM to help your unbelief!

Let’s read Esther 6:1-14 (Chapter 6 is a very important chapter in the Book of Esther.)

Mordecai Honored by the King

1 That night sleep escaped the king, so he ordered the book recording daily events to be brought and read to the king. 

The king had a hard time sleeping. He felt troubled. Only GOD can go where mere man cannot.  The king was troubled by something. GOD has a way of troubling us.

The king “ordered for the book recording daily events to be brought and read to him.” Do you recall what had been recorded but not rewarded? Do you recall the two eunuchs who were plotting to kill the king? Mordecai came upon this plot either directly or indirectly. Mordecai was at the right time and at the right place. Mordecai was armed with this information. But what would he do with it? He had a decision to make. He could keep quite or he could go to the proper authority and reveal it. So Mordecai revealed this information to Queen Esther and after investigation it proved to be true and the two eunuchs were hung. The event was recorded but Mordecai was never rewarded.

GOD is amazing. HIS timing is always perfect. HE is never early or never late but right on time.  

2 They found the written report of how Mordecai had informed on Bigthana and Teresh, two eunuchs who guarded the [king's] entrance, when they planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus. 

3 The king inquired, "What honor and special recognition have been given to Mordecai for this [act]?" The king's personal attendants replied, "Nothing has been done for him." 

4 The king asked, "Who's in the court?" Now Haman was just entering the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him. 

Haman, the king’s right-hand man, enters the king’s presence at just the right moment. Again, GOD’S timing. What was Haman planning to ask the king?

5 The king's attendants answered him, "See, Haman is standing in the court." "Have him enter," the king ordered. 

Haman must have thought “Man is this my lucky day, the king has asked for me.” Haman was briefed before he approached the king as to the general reason the king wanted to see him.

6 Haman entered, and the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king wants to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Who is it the king would want to honor more than me?" 

7 Haman told the king, "For the man the king wants to honor: 

8 Have them bring a royal garment that the king himself has worn and a horse the king himself has ridden, which has a royal diadem on its head. 

9 Put the garment and the horse under the charge of one of the king's most noble officials. Have them clothe the man the king wants to honor, parade him on the horse through the city square, and proclaim before him, 'This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.' " 

WOW! Haman prided himself coming up with this elaborate plan. Do you think Haman had dreamed of such a day when the king would honor him in such a manner? Likely. People who think well of themselves tend to have active fantasies.

10 The king told Haman, "Hurry, and do just as you proposed. Take a garment and a horse for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the King's Gate. Do not leave out anything you have suggested." 

Oh my! Talking about going from elation to despair. But to Haman’s credit he carried out the king’s request.

11 So Haman took the garment and the horse. He clothed Mordecai and paraded him through the city square, crying out before him, "This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor."

12 Then Mordecai returned to the King's Gate, but Haman, overwhelmed, hurried off for home with his head covered. 

Oh my! Haman was totally humiliated. He covered his head to hurry off for home where he could find solace.

13 Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is Jewish, you won't overcome him, because your downfall is certain." 

Oh my! When a plan begins to crumble it crumbles quickly and especially when GOD is planning against you. We need to keep in mind that Haman had been asked to join Queen Esther and the king at a banquet just for them. Do you recall how happy and excited Haman was when he was to have this special time with just the queen and the king? But Haman had escaped and went home to sulk and lament.

14 While they were still speaking with him, the eunuchs of the king arrived and rushed Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.

I love it when plans to harm others backfire. When we consider the timing of these events, we see the hand of GOD at work. We get to see the pieces in place that need to come together, as only GOD can orchestrate. Do you recall 1 Corinthians 2:6-8?

6 However, among the mature we do speak a wisdom, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 

7 On the contrary, we speak God's hidden wisdom in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory. 

8 None of the rulers of this age knew it, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

GOD’S wisdom is not revealed until the exact instant HE chooses. HIS timing is always perfect.

We need to keep in mind that Queen Esther and her servants and all the Jews in Susa had been fasting and praying to GOD for three days. The three day fast had ended. We get to see how GOD had placed things in the path of life to bring about a Godly conclusion. But it required the obedience of HIS chosen. Each person had a choice to make. Their choices were not without risk. They fasted and prayed.

What would have happened if they had not been obedient to GOD? Let’s review what know what was recorded in Esther 4:13-14:

13 Mordecai told [the messenger] to reply to Esther, "Don't think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king's palace. 

14 If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father's house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this." 

GOD’S plans will be accomplished. They may not accomplished through us but they will be accomplished as we read in verse 14.

Haman was likely confident that the king would grant his request to hang Mordecai because after all he had the kings signet ring and was next in command to the king. Self-importance can backfire on a person.

Haman was already having the gallows built at his hose to hang Mordecai. What a glorious day this will be or would it? Let’s read on ----

Let’s read Esther 7:1-6:

Haman Is Executed

1 The king and Haman came to feast with Esther the queen. 

2 Once again, on the second day while drinking wine, the king asked Esther, "Queen Esther, whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek, even to half the kingdom, will be done." 

3 Queen Esther answered, "If I have obtained your approval, my king, and if the king is pleased, spare my life-[this is] my request; and [spare] my people-[this is] my desire. 

4 For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and extermination. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn't be worth burdening the king." 

5 King Ahasuerus spoke up and asked Queen Esther, "Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?" 

6 Esther answered, "The adversary and enemy is this evil Haman." Haman stood terrified before the king and queen. 

Oh my! The cat is out of the bag. You can almost see the color drain out of Haman’s face.

The king’s right-hand man has used the authority the king gave him to carry out evil against a people group who he likely knew were not trouble makers. The king was infuriated! It is not a good thing to get those in authority infuriated with something you did.

Let’s read Esther 7:7-10:

7 Angered by this, the king arose from where they were drinking wine and [went to] the palace garden. Haman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible for him.

Often, when we get upset we need to walk away to ponder the action we need to take to deal with an issue in life.

8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the house of wine drinking, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, "Would he actually violate the queen while I am in the palace?" As soon as the statement left the king's mouth, Haman's face was covered. 

Add insult to injury. When the king re-enters the area where they had the banquet, “Haman was falling on the couch where Queen Esther was reclining.” What image did that portray? The king immediately sentenced Haman to death by the words he spoke. The king’s attendants responded immediately. Haman’s face was covered because Haman was a dead man. Haman had committed a grievous act toward the king and justice would be swift as we read on ---

9 Harbona, one of the royal eunuchs, said: "There is a gallows 75 feet tall at Haman's house that he made for Mordecai, who [gave] the report that saved the king." The king commanded, "Hang him on it." 

10 They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's anger subsided.

Haman stood terrified before the king and queen. 

Haman knew that what he had planned for Mordecai was going to happen to him. It would take place on the very gallows he had built to hang Mordecai.

As we look back over the events leading up to this point we see GOD’S hand bringing about HIS plan to preserve HIS people. His plan was to use those in key positions but each had a decision to make. The positions they were in were not comfortable positions. They had to trust GOD. They did and the outcome was according to GOD’S plan but if those in the positions GOD had placed them failed to be obedient, GOD would have accomplished HIS plan to preserve HIS people.

Has GOD placed you in such a position? Pray and seek GOD’S help.

In the words GOD spoke through Mordecai to Queen Esther, “14 If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father's house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this." 

Blessings!!!